Information and application instructions

Updated August 14, 2024

The NSF CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service program provides scholarships to qualified students to meet the demands for growing number of professionals with information assurance expertise in various disciplines.

The scholarship program at ASU is an on-campus program, and welcomes applications from students in Computer Science, Computer Systems Engineering, and Software Engineering programs interested in cybersecurity specialization. Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 out of 4.00 are encouraged to apply.

Completed applications will be evaluated as they are received. If a student is currently an ASU student interested in the scholarship program, the student should send an email to Professor Stephen S. Yau at [email protected] and Professor Gail-Joon Ahn at [email protected] with the following information: your current degree program, the semester you expect to graduate, and your updated unofficial ASU transcript.

Please see the complete lists of scholarship benefits, eligibility requirements, recipient obligations and application materials below. The submission due date for the Spring 2025 semester is October 16, 2024.

Scholarship
application form

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Scholarship benefits

  • Full-time tuition and education related fees (does not include items such as meal plans, housing, or parking).
  • Professional development: $6,000 per academic year (two semesters) – Paid on a reimbursement basis for SFS Job Fair and other travel, books and other professional certifications.
  • Stipend: $27,000 per academic year for undergraduate students and $37,000 per academic year for graduate students.

While the scholarship is typically for up to two years, the funding period may be extended to three years for doctoral students, or for students in combined bachelor’s and master’s degree (“4+1”) programs.

Eligibility for scholarship

To be eligible for consideration for the scholarship, the student must meet all of the following requirements:

  1. United States citizen or lawful permanent resident.
  2. Current or prospective* full-time, on-campus students studying in the following programs: B.S. degree in Computer Science and Computer Systems Engineering (junior and senior), M.S. degree in Computer Science, M.S. degree in Software Engineering or PhD in Computer Science.
  3. The student must have a grade-point average of at least 3.25/4.00 GPA before the first semester of the scholarship period, as indicated on the scholarship application.
  4. Note that when a student receives the scholarship, the student must be in one of the above degree programs with Cybersecurity Concentration or Cybersecurity Specialty in Software Engineering MS degree program.
  5. For a B.S. or M.S. student, the maximum period of eligibility for receiving the scholarship is four consecutive semesters (summer semesters are not included since each scholarship recipient is required to do a summer internship** in a Federal agency during each summer semester within the scholarship period). For a Ph.D. student, the maximum period of the scholarship is six consecutive semesters (not including summer semesters).
  6. * Prospective students may apply for the scholarship simultaneously with your admission to a CS/CSE/SE program with Cybersecurity Concentration/Specialty at ASU.
  7. ** Internship placements in Federal Government organizations typically require security clearances.

Obligations for scholarship recipient

The recipient must agree to:

  1. Work immediately following graduation*** for the Federal Government Exactly Branch (a small number may work in Federal Government other branches, state, local or tribal governments), in a position related to cybersecurity for a period equal to the number of years of receiving the scholarship.
  2. Participate in government internship positions in the summers during the years of scholarship study; doctoral students may be allowed to replace their summer internship with a research activity following a recommendation from their academic advisor and approval from the NSF program office.
  3. Participate in other CyberCorps® Scholarship activities, such as conferences, workshops and seminars.
  4. *** Post-graduate job placements in Federal Government organizations typically require security clearances.

Application materials

An applicant should be either a graduate student, or an undergraduate student at least in the second semester of the sophomore year. All applicants are required to submit the following items:

  1. Scholarship application form (found at the top of this page).
  2. A resume including a list of academic recognitions, awards, honors and distinctions.
  3. Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended.
  4. Two letters of reference from persons knowledgeable of applicant’s potential for successful learning and previous work.
    1. At least one of these letters must be from a current faculty member, and the second letter may be from either a current or former faculty member, or a current or former employer.
    2. Each letter needs to contain the name, position or title, telephone number, email address, and the employer’s name and address of the reference, and the relationship with the applicant, and candid opinions on the qualifications and character of the applicant.
    3. Each reference letter must be mailed directly to the person and address shown at the end of the scholarship application instructions, or included in the application package in a separate sealed envelope with the reference’s signature and date of signing across the seal.
    4. If the student has completed any courses at ASU, it is preferred to have at least one ASU faculty member who taught the applicant provide a letter of reference.
  5. An essay (no more than 2,500 words) describing applicant’s:
    1. Goals and motivations to pursue a career in cybersecurity.
    2. Leadership potential and commitment to service.
    3. Knowledge of the techniques of cybersecurity.
    4. Ability to identify and analyze problems, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions, and provide solutions to individual and organizational problems.
    5. Ability to make clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listen effectively and clarify information as needed; facilitate an open exchange of ideas and foster an atmosphere of open communication.
    6. Ability to express facts and ideas in writing in clear, convincing and organized manners appropriate to the audience and occasion.

Contact

Send questions and applications submissions to Professor Stephen S. Yau ([email protected]) or Professor Gail-Joon Ahn at [email protected] with subject “NSF SFS CyberCorp® Scholarship at ASU”

Mailing address
School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence
699 South Mill Avenue, Suite 553
Tempe, AZ 85281

Telephone

480-965-3190